Record-breaking livestock entries for Berkshire Show
Entries have closed for this year’s Royal County of Berkshire Show on 21 and 22 September with organisers inundated by livestock competitors, including a record turn-out of sheep.
Competition more intense than ever in sheep classes – last year’s winning owner Tom Stayt with prize Berrichon
Over 867 of them have been entered into 180 classes – an astonishing 200 more than last year. The surge is partly explained by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust’s prestigious Young Shepherd of the Year Grand Final, which is being hosted at this year’s show and will bring youngsters and their animals from all over the country.
Despite the devastating effects of bovine tuberculois, cattle entries have also increased to 780, from 755 last year. Such is the quality of competition at the end-of-season Berkshire Show that exhibitors will traveling from as far afield as North Yorkshire and Wales, with a range of breeds, including the Australian-originated Murray Grey.
Pig and camelid entries remain similar to last year, with around 40 llamas and alpacas entered into formal and fun classes, and 120 pigs from as far afield as Cumbria and the Isle of Wight. Families will also be delighted by the ‘hobby pigs’ in the pig tent, like the miniature Kune Kune.
Marking out the showground: former Chairman Michael Bissell,this year’s Show Chairman Ali Brown and Showground Director Tim Dennis
Today’s news comes as the marathon process of marking out gets underway at the Newbury Showground. A dedicated team of volunteers has begun painstakingly pegging out the 600 stands within the 177-acre “tented town”.
“We normally reckon on about 500 sheep but this time we have almost 900,” says Nigel Wernham who coordinates the sheep section of the show. “We will need another tent and a lot more hurdling, but if you are enthusiastic about sheep, it really will be a very exciting show.”
Tipped for gold in the young handlers competition this year is Thatcham’s Reece Lennard. The 11-year-old shows his own Soay sheep, some of which he has bred himself. There will also be a number of other classes at the Berkshire Show, with some unusual breeds like Herdwick and Kerry Hill being showcased.
For those looking for some light relief, sheep will also star in a hilarious New Zealand-style sheep shearing demonstration, The Sheep Show. The thirty-minute show introduces audiences to different breeds of sheep and demonstrates how their wool is used. It also includes The Sheep Show Hustle, in which the four-footed stars dance to music, complete with disco lighting.
Meanwhile, advance tickets continue to sell well, and trade stand bookings are also up. “With just six weeks to go, we’re on track for a very successful weekend,” says Newbury and District Agricultural Society General Manager Mary Hopkins. “At its heart, the show is about agriculture, so I’m delighted that we have so many top quality animals coming this year. The competition standard is high and is renowned on the show circuit, but we also appeal to families who enjoy getting close to a huge range of animals, and finding out more about them.”
She adds: “Farming has faced many challenges in recent years, not least the recent TB outbreak, but our buoyant entry numbers suggest that agricultural businesses may be starting to feel more positive about the future.”
More information from www.berkshireshow.co.uk
